Paul Taylor: Billy Davies' key to success at Nottingham Forest has a familiar feel to it

WHEN England bowed out of Euro 2000 in dismal fashion, following defeats at the hands of Portugal and Romania in the group stages, much was made of Kevin Keegan's approach to the game.

After going 2-0 up within 20 minutes against Portugal in particular, the England manager was accused of being too cavalier, when they pushed for a third goal – and ultimately lost 3-2.

Within a few months of a disappointing tournament, Keegan's reign was over and the post mortem was in full flow. Precisely where things had gone wrong was picked apart for weeks on end.

But one man was not going to be drawn into the minute deconstruction of England's failures.

"Players lose you games, not tactics. There's so much crap talked about tactics by people who barely know how to win at dominoes," he said.

That man, in the unlikely event that you had not guessed already, was Brian Clough.

Talk to any of the players who formed his famous sides of the late 70s and early 80s and they will all tell you the same thing.

Tactics, to Clough, were largely a one-way street.

Old Big 'Ead would send Forest out with a clear idea of how they should play – normally based around giving the ball to John Robertson as quickly as possible – without paying much attention to the opposition.

Let them worry about us, was his attitude.

And, as a result, Forest's players always went out onto the pitch full of confidence, with the simple belief that they were the superior side, whether they were facing Liverpool or Lincoln.

Their minds were clear. Play to the best of their ability and they would win. It was not a complex formula. But it was certainly a successful one.

Three decades later, football has evolved. Even Sir Alex Ferguson would not send out his Manchester United side without even a handful of instructions about the strengths and weaknesses of the opposition.

But the impact of a man born just down the road from Sir Alex, in Glasgow, can be at least partly attributed to a similar frame of mind from the one Clough adopted throughout the club's halcyon days.

In three matches so far, since returning to Nottingham Forest, Billy Davies has done one simple thing.

He has picked what he believes is the Reds best starting XI, amid a formation he believes is the best way of utilising their talents – and he has sent them out with a clear idea of how he wants them to play.

The end result has been three dominant, destructive performances that could all have resulted in emphatic victories. Only the heroics of keeper Adam Bogdan denied them the win they deserved against Bolton, as Davies took charge of his first game back at the City Ground.

Huddersfield were destroyed by Forest's firepower and, had Radi Majewski showed the same cutting edge in front of goal at The Valley as he had when netting his hat-trick against the Terriers, Charlton would also have found themselves more humbled than they were.

In three games, Forest have probably carved out more goal scoring opportunities than they did during Alex McLeish's entire tenure. Davies' reign has so far included 34 shots on target and 18 off, along with nine goals scored.

Only one of those, in the form of Darius Henderson's late strike against Huddersfield, has come from a striker.

And, after the game on Saturday, Simon Cox admitted his frustration at failing to find the net for a 16th game in a row... but, while he may have set high standards for himself, it is impossible to be critical of him.

Cox has started all of the last three games, each alongside a different front man. But the work-rate demonstrated by he and Billy Sharp, Dexter Blackstock and Henderson has been integral to Forest's success.

Whether they are scoring goals or not, they deserve huge credit for the part they have played.

And the tireless shift they put in puts pressure on the opposition defence – and, in the games so far at least, has helped ensure that Forest dominate possession emphatically.

And, when they have the ball, there are few more dangerous midfield quartets than Forest's.

It may not quite be the traditional 4-4-2 that Forest favoured in Clough's day.

But, with Adlene Guedioura sweeping up in front of the back four, the trio of Majewski, Andy Reid and Henri Lansbury are free to impose their creative influence.

It is no coincidence that all three men have got on the scoresheet, given the freedom they have to provide support in and around the box.

McLeish left Forest in January largely because of the failure to add the targets and particularly because of the farce surrounding the collapse of a deal to take George Boyd on loan.

But if there were holes to fill in the side, they are hard to spot now.

Given that Lewis McGugan, one of the most naturally talented players at the club, cannot currently break into the starting line-up, it is hard to see where Boyd would fit in.

With Chris Cohen having slotted into the left-back position with impressive ease, initially because of an injury to Dan Harding, Forest's back four has also looked remarkably solid.

They have a host of options up front, as well as an embarrassment of riches in midfield, where Guy Moussi, Jonathan Greening and Simon Gillett are all waiting in the wings.

And, with Daniel Ayala and Sam Hutchinson both coming back from injury – and skipper Danny Collins finding himself among the substitutes recently – Forest possess plenty of cover in the back four, even at a time when Greg Halford will be suspended for two games after collecting too many yellow cards.

Yes, Forest are short of wingers. But, unless Davies wants to change his approach, that is not an issue.

It says much that even he seems uncertain over whether new additions are required.

And, given the manner in which that formula has worked so far, it is never likely to be.

Since the start of the season, many have said Forest possess a squad that is capable of challenging for the top six.

The secret Davies has unearthed is perhaps no more complex than the simple act of telling them that – and then letting them get on with proving it.

11 comments

buddybonny:
Maybe L'ster not so catchable now after last night. They do seem adequate enough to keep pulling off wins at the right time to keep them in there. They will be tough to catch. You never know one of the 2nd to 5th place teams (I think Cardiff are there now) may fall away but they have a healthy lead with few games to go. Looks like a battle between 5 or 6 teams for 6th place. Hope Brighton don't win there game in hand as 7 points is a real advantage for a team that is tough to beat.

Flipflopper, i had no idea Dalgleish had done that, you learn something new everyday, I had him in there for winning 4 div one titles with 2 clubs and a double but had never heard of the PB thing before.
Doug1978 Maradona!!!!!!!!!!!! of course, just goes to show you always forget someone. John Robertson was a very good player, i started going to the CG in 1974 and watched Robbo grow from an average player to one of the greats, maybe the best footballer ever to wear the garabaldi, but as good as ZZ, maradona, Pele, Cruyff ?? i dont know, close though.

Very good article by Paul Taylor, best of his that I've read, though I agree fully with TrickyinExile's excellent point about tactics etc.
Psycho66: good idea and list. One name I think is missing from the genius players is Diego Maradona. He certainly was / is a contemptible little cheat, but he was a hell of a talented footballer too.
And yep, I know this will be a very popular suggestion here, but I'd put John Robertson on that list too, not least because THAT incredible team was inspired by his genius (and most notably in two European Cup finals).
What is genius?
As Clough himself said: ''John Robertson was a very unattractive young man. If one day, I felt a bit off colour, I would sit next to him. I was bloody Errol Flynn in comparison. But give him a ball and a yard of grass, and he was an artist, the Picasso of our game.''

Forest G- Man.
I agree with what you write with regards to the home and away remaining fixtures.
What is facinating me at the moment is the sudden demise of Middlesboro and Leicester because these are the 2 catchable ones.
We are doing our bit and i hope their opposition do theres.
Come on Blackburn tonight.....
This would be a fantastic result.

Tricky - great post!
First part of our season saw us passing it confidently around the back 4 until we then realised we need to do something with it in order to score a goal. Occassionally, we did it but all too often we were found wanting. The last few games under SoD (bar 20mins vs Leeds when we were magic) the players looked devoid of ideas and lost so much confidence, we had forwards and midfield playing in different games at times. This just continued under AM as he did not seem the right person to change it, certainly not in this group of players. Then in came Billy, OK only 3 games in but the players seem to know their roles and the basics are being adhered to. Forwards not scoring enough but they will tell you things are better now than when they were getting an odd goal from scraps. They are an integral part of the teamwork and know their job is vital even if they don't score. I'm sure the goals will come soon though and IMO it is more important to have the goals coming from all quarters, as they did in the days of BC. Confidence is up, players seem happy and that has to go down to Billy. SoD did a lot of good in the circumstances, let's not forget that, but sometimes you need a bit more if you want to get to your goal - the team did not look right after the Lions roared and showed up our frailties.
Looking at the run-in it actually looks pretty good. We are capable of winning all 6 home games - Ipswich, Wolves, Brighton, B'pool, Barnsley, L'ster (66 points). Last 5 seasons in the Championship between 70 and 75 points has got to the play-offs. The away games are tough - S.Wed, Hull, Burnley, Cardiff, 'Boro, Millwall - so those home games are vital if we are gonna make it. Can we win them all and then get another 4 to 9 points from the away games? I don't know, tough ask, but I do think that 6th place will be a low points total.
In an earlier post I did suggest it would be a disaster to go up this year with this group of players (threatening derby's worst team in history title) but suddenly I'm more excited about it all and that is down to the Billy factor. Just hope I've still got this Lovin' Feelin' come April 1st singing our hearts out at Turf Moor! Come on Billy, COYRs, onwards and forwards.

BD should not be mentioned in the same breath as BC, and who could be, well, Alex, Mourinho, Shankly, Paisley, Dalgleish and Pep G, I am starting to struggle now. BC was one of the few true football geniuses, that word is banded about a lot but really, when it comes down to it, there just aren't that many. There are far more football players than managers but when we talk about geniuses with the ball there really aren't that many either, Pele, Cruyff, Gazza, Best, ZZ, Greaves, Messi, Di Stefano, Platini, Muller and Zico, again starting to struggle. I know there are loads of great players and managers you could add to these lists but true Geniuses not that many. It would be interesting to see if anybody could add to the lists or feel someone should be taken off, it's all subjective and of course these players and managers are just my opinion.
As for BD, I am so surprised at how easy he has made it look turning us around, it may be as this article says, give them the confidence and send them out there and pick your best 11. Although picking that best 11 did not seem to happen for the other managers we've had this season so he has to be given credit for that. In fact I think he deserves a lot of credit, he has changed the ethos and gone on the attack, we were getting an easy touch and although SoD seemed a tactical savvy manager I sometimes think the lads weren't 100 % sure what they were doing as we changed players and tactics almost every game to deal with the opposition. BD has made the opposition change to play us now, he's going after them with Raddi Reidy and Henri in the middle, let's make them change tactics. I love the new skipper at LB and would be happy for him to become the new Psycho figure for us. Keep it going BD, your are never going to be BC but get half way there and we are top half of the prem and I can live with that.

great post tricky enjoyed reading your comments and areed with you,
football has chnged so much over the years in tactics and a whole sporting knowledge in diets, fitness and all diffrent aspects,
i mean layers was aloued to drink and smoke back in them days,
BILLY DAVIES is a very good championship manager i have said this before he came to forest the first time when derby sacked him i said to a derby fan there club made a mistake,
well this is where we stand now 4 points off playoffs so yes we can dream if we go on a good run now anything is possible, so glad the king is back the buzz is back in the city and just maybe premirship football could be on the cards

Good post TrickyinExile. Brian Clough was a genius without doubt. His teams never lost their shape because they knew that chances would always come. Billy isn't Brian Clough but his return has had such a dramatic effect. He's been able to get stellar performances out of players that McLeish couldn't. The atmosphere at the club has changed so much and not just amongst the players. Us fans are dreaming again. U reds.